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One Dead, Two Hurt In Shooting Outside Lathrop Nightclub

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LATHROP (CBS13) – One person was killed and two others hurt in an early morning shooting outside of a Lathrop nightclub.

The shooting happened as the TX Night Club on south Harlan Road near Interstate 5 was closing for the night shortly after 2 a.m. Friday.

The shooting happened just feet from the nightclub entrance. Dozens were outside when the shots rang out.

Family and friends say the man who was killed was a local rapper.

Those close to murder victim Saul Salas say the 27-year-old Stockton musician was performing at the club Thursday night.

Once the club closed, Salas, his brother and friends were in the parking lot when a fight broke out, followed by a barrage of bullets.

“We have three people that were shot,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Les Garcia said. “One has expired.”

Salas was shot multiple times. Friends tell CBS13 his brother and another man were also hit by gunfire. The sheriff’s office said the other victims were 30 and 35 years old but didn’t release their names. Their condition Friday afternoon wasn’t available.

Family members say they have no idea why anyone would want the aspiring rapper dead.

They say Salas had performed at the club once before and didn’t have any problems.

Investigators spent much of Friday morning searching for clues in the triple shooting. No one had been arrested and no motive identified.

A key piece of evidence may come from security cameras at the club and surrounding businesses.

“We’re going to download that surveillance video and see what type of evidentiary value it could help us identify suspects here,” Garcia said.

Detectives cordoned off much of the area, preventing neighboring businesses from opening for much of the day.

“When I was told I was like ‘really?’ It’s so close to where I work,” Judy Mateo said.

“We’re right next door and I’ve never had any problems with anyone over there, never heard of any issues,” Rachel Lieder said. “This is the first time I’m hearing of it and it’s pretty scary.”